10 Days in Italy - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Classic Italian Cities & Amalfi Coast

This ten-day itinerary is like a modern version of the grand tour, taking travelers to the canals of Venice, the palaces of Florence, the charming seaside villages of the Amalfi Coast, and the ancient monuments of Rome.

Begin the trip in Venice, where you'll spend a few days exploring the "Floating City," including a gondola ride and a guided walking tour to Piazza San Marco, San Marco Basilica, and the ornate Doge's Palace. Then take a train to Florence to see landmarks like the 15th-century Pitti Palace and the world-famous Uffizi Gallery before going on a walking food tour. Venture into Chianti wine region the next day, stopping in the medieval village of San Gimignano, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Next, zip down to the Amalfi Coast, where you'll enjoy a sunset boat tour off the coast of Positano. You'll day-trip to the island of Capri on day seven and experience the wonder of Grotta Azzurra, a naturally hollowed sea cave, before relaxing on the beach. Wrap up the trip in Rome, where the itinerary features guided tours of the Vatican Museums, the Colosseum, and the Forum. Spend your last evening in Italy dining on pasta and strolling around, gelato in hand, through the Eternal City. Learn more

Get off the beaten path in Venice with this guide.

Itinerary #2: Family Fun in Venice, Florence, Rome 

This family-friendly itinerary features stops in Italy's most popular attractions—Venice, Florence, and Rome—with kid-oriented activities on the agenda including "gladiator school" and pizza-making.

On this family-oriented tour, you'll see many of the classic sights offered on the Venice, Florence, Amalfi Coast & Rome itinerary listed above, but with a kid-friendly spin. Begin in Venice, where you'll take a guided walking tour featuring points of interest of particular interest to kids, like the lively animal mosaics inside San Marco Basilica. Then go on a relaxed bike tour of Lido, ending up in the wide open spaces of Villa Pisani, where children can run and play. Continuing by train to Venice, you'll go on a family-friendly food tour of the historic center—work up an appetite for gelato!—then participate in an urban treasure hunt on day five.

Day six features kid-friendly pizza-making and craft classes in Florence. The next day, you'll catch the train to Rome for a family-oriented tour of the Colosseum and Forum. It's a perfect introduction to "Gladiator School," which kids will attend on day eight. Take in the Vatican Museums and enjoy some free time in the city for shopping, eating, and sightseeing on the last day of the trip. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Highlights of Sicily

Focusing on the island of Sicily, this ten-day itinerary offers travelers a chance to ascend Mount Etna, taste street food in Palermo, explore art history in Taormina, and swim in turquoise waters off Mondello Beach.

Your Sicilian adventure begins in Palermo, the island's capital. It's a large city: you'll appreciate the fact that your first guided tour isn't on foot, but on segway. After sightseeing, you'll take a cooking class that involves shopping for fresh seafood and produce in the local market, then learning how to make Sicilian dishes.

After a free day in Palermo to sample street food and visit museums like the Galleria Regionale, a 15th-century neo-Gothic castle, and the Museo Archeological Regionale archaeological museum, relax on Mondello Beach. The next day, you'll move onto Taormina. There, you'll get an overview of the city's history with a guided walking tour, enjoying far-off views of Mount Etna. You'll spend day five getting up close to Europe's largest active volcano on a full-day tour. 

The last part of the trip takes you to Catania, a busy port town known for its Fontana dell’ Elefante, a fountain made from lava rock in the city center, and the 16th-century UNESCO-listed Monastero dei Benedettini. Take a guided food tour of the town on day eight, trying local specialties like granita (shaved ice) and arancini (fried rice balls). Wander Catania's picturesque streets, take photos in the colorful La Pescheria fish market, and visit the 2,200-year-old Teatro Romano on the last day of the trip. Learn more

Read more here about the best time to visit Sicily. 

Itinerary #4: Food and Wine Tour of Italy

Sip and sample your way through Italy on this food-focused trip plan, which features food tours and wine tastings in Bologna, Florence, Parma, the Chianti wine region, and Rome.

Work up an appetite in Bologna on the first full day of the trip with a walk around the historic center, stopping into the 14th-century Basilica di San Petronio and the 11th-century University of Bologna. You'll go for a guided food tour in the afternoon, taking breaks in pasta shops and bakeries to sample artisanal tortellini, mortadella, and a variety of local cheeses. The next day, side-trip to Parma, famous for its signature Parma ham and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.

Moving on to Florence, you'll squeeze in some cultural sightseeing before going on another food tour, following your guide to the city's best off-the-beaten-path gelato and coffee shops. In local shops and markets, you'll try truffle panini, fresh-pressed Tuscan olive oil, and handmade chocolate focaccia.

On day five, head into the Tuscan countryside to taste wines at family-run wineries in Chianti. The last few days of the trip, you'll be in Rome, where the itinerary's highlights include an after-dark city tour, a pizza-making class, and free time to visit museums like Galleria Borghese or to linger in the outdoor cafés and bars of Trastevere. Learn more

Find out more here about what to eat and drink in Tuscany.

Itinerary #5: Hiking the Northern Dolomites 

Hike through several national parks and spend nearly every night in a mountain hut on this active ten-day itinerary. On this adventure in the northern Dolomites, you'll cross the cultural and historic border between Europe's southern Latin and northern Germanic regions.

This ten-day hike between mountain huts in the Italian Dolomites is a breath of fresh air. Spend your first night getting acclimated at Dreischusterhütte, a cozy lodge near San Candido. The next day, you'll hike through the upper valley to the Torre di Toblin, gateway to the three peaks of the Tre Cime mountain group. You'll hike for six hours on day three, following the trail down the wild Val Ribon and then up the Strudelkopfsattel Pass. You'll spot pristine Braies Lake the next day as you continue descending into the valley.

Scenic lakes and green hills surround you as the hike continues along a historical path built by the Austrians during World War I to the Fodara Vedla mountain hut. Walk across the Fanes high plain, once an island with a lagoon, en route to the Medesc Pass. Take a break in a mountain village before moving onto Marmolada, the highest summit of the Dolomites. (Feeling tired? From this point, you can take a lift part of the way.) The trail continues steeply downhill to the San Silvestro valley, along the Friedrich August path, ending up in the Nova Levante valley, where you'll catch a bus back to civilization. Learn more

For a shorter trip to the Dolomites, try this seven-day itinerary.

More Unique Italy Itineraries

Find more ten-day trip plans in Italy, then check out this article about Italy's top regions and learn how kimkim trips work in Italy.